FREEDOM

FREEDOM,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”     5/9/19    (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.”  (Colossians 4:3, NLT)

Put It Into Action
Paul was writing these words while he was in chains in prison. He was arrested for preaching the gospel. Everything in his surroundings shouted “limitations,” but instead of looking at his surroundings, Paul kept his eyes on the limitless God. He kept looking for the open door of opportunity that God would have for him next. Since he couldn’t go out and speak publicly, Paul thought, “No problem. I’ll start writing.” He wrote book after book, almost half of the books of the New Testament, much of it from a prison cell. They thought they were stopping him, but they were doing just the opposite, causing his voice to become amplified. Here we are some 2,000 years later, and we still feel Paul’s influence. When doors look closed all around you, when your surroundings look limited, when you feel like you’re in chains, remember, God is still at work in your life. Keep expecting. Keep believing. Pray for opportunities to be opened to you. The prayer of the righteous avails much, so keep praying because He promises to break the chains and open doors of opportunity in your life.

A Prayer for Today
“Father in heaven, I choose to take my eyes off my surroundings and focus on You. I choose to focus on the passion and dream You’ve planted in my heart. I trust that You are working behind the scenes, opening doors of opportunity. In Jesus’ Name. Amen”

My Thoughts:
Even in a Roman Jail, Paul used his freedom to great advantage.  Personally, I even found Christ through Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 3:11-15 in understanding the Divine logic of how that salvation was by faith in the foundation of Christ Jesus and not the works of my hands or in my own life.  Even today a great many souls are betting to go to heaven because they are “GOOD PEOPLE”  But in the Book of Romans one of the first things that Paul shares with us is that this is not true:  Romans:3:22-34:   Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:   For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.   And Jesus confirmed this in John 14:6:   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.